only listen to your own records?

Joel: Oh, you know, this and that...not much these days but still there's always a treat around the bend somewhere. For example, this summer I heard Goercki's Third for the first time and just about fell on my head. Silkworm's Lifestyle rules. I received the Joy Division Heart And Soul set as a gift last month and it has many wonderful, spind tinglers...but for the most part I'm too tired to be very enthusiastic about music. I just want to go to work and get through the day along with everyone else. And I believe I have almost nothing in common with Prince. Although if one could get a dose of Princeness as a shot in the arm, well I'd get in line for sure.

Me: Your last full-length, Blackbird, had this amazing organic rock sound. On some tracks it seemed like the songs were built on happy little aural accidents (I'm thinking of the feedback noises in Unless You're Tired of Living and the Comsat Angels cover in particular). How much of the songs are worked out beforehand, and how much do you rely on performance ambiance?

Joel: All the recordings we've done or ever will do rely on performances and I doubt any of us have ever felt like we were just playing the notes or the parts. This invites failure of course and we've had our share I suppose but as players it's vital that we leave something to the imagination. Otherwise our imaginations are of little use.

Me: I read somewhere that your day job is helping handicapped people transition to independent living. How do you go from doing something like that to playing music and participating in the whole record

industry game?

Joel: For several years I worked for a non-profit organization that supports people with disabilities. Eventually a difficult but rewarding job became just plain difficult and consuming...So for the last year I've been thankful to have a regular 9 to 5 as a copy room clerk at a Seattle law firm. And the record industry has very little impact on any of us. After all we've never sold more than a thousand of any of the records so far so it's more like taking an adult continuing education class than anything.

Me: Why do you write songs?

Joel: Can't think of any good reason - I've tried to stop believe me...

Me: Is the Downer Trio ever gonna tour?

Joel: We have no plans to tour again.

Me: How would you classify the music you make?

Joel: Sheesh I don't know...truth in advertising is at an all time low so I don't really bother much anymore. Since a few folks are way better at it and a few more are a lot worse, I jus let them have at it...

Me: What can we expect on the next full-length. Electric, acoustic, a combination of the two? Electronica? Funk?

Joel: Currently there are no plans for any (Continued...)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5